Filler-cap and intake for vacuum feed systems.



C. L. STOKES.

FILLER CAP AND INTAKE FOP. VACUUM FEED SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I0. I917.

JY Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET II H'IIIHHHH IIIII IIIIIII HIHIIHIHI IHHIIIHHI C. L. STOKES.

FILLER CAP AND INTAKE FOR VACUUM FEED SYSTEMS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z INVENTOR 4, mm ATTORNEY CHARLES LAWRENCE STOKES, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FILLER-CAP AND INTAKE FOR VACUUM FEED SYSTEMS. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 6., 1919.

Application filed July 10, 1917. Serial No. 179,621.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES LAWRENCE STOKES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filler-Caps and Intakes for Vacuum Feed Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum pumping systems for supplying fuel or oil to internal combustion engines and is particularly applicable to systems of the type in which air is restrictedly admitted into the rising column of liquid as it is be ng drawn by suction from a low level supply tank to a high level reservoir.

The object of the invention is to improve the mode of introducing air in the communication between the rear tank and the vacuum tank by putting it in the filler cap on the rear tank as an integral part thereof. lt also consists in an improved filler cap used in conjunction with the Vacuum line connection. The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is it section showing the rear tank, vacuum tank and carburetor, with connections;

Fig. 2 is a section of the rear tank with improved filler cap; and

Fig. 3 is a plan of the rear tank and filler cap.

lln the vacuum system illustrated in Fig. 1, suction is applied to the reservoir 1, through the ipe 2, from the. engine intake manifold 3. fieservo ir 1 is connected b a communication 1 to the rear tank '5. here is also a communication from reservoir 1 to the carburetor 6 for the urpose of supplying fuel thereto. Suction eing applied to the reservoir, 1, liquid will be drawn from the tank through the line 4. To facilitate lifting, air is restrictedly admitted to the line 4 near its lower end as described in my Patents Nos. 1,230,537, 1,230,596 and 1,230,832 r June 19th,'1917, and in my application Serial No. 17 9,622 of even date herewith.

According to my present invent1on,l place the hole for this purpose at 7, on the inside of the rear tank 5 so that when suction is discontinued to the reservoir 1, the fuel dropping back through the line 4, will then have no chance to splash on the outside of the tank 5. 8 is a cover to the cylindrical filler cap 9 which is held in place by an eccentric catch 10 and swings on hinge 11, the objects of this being so that the tank 5 may readily be filled with liquid by displacing the catch 10 thus eliminating the chances of loss of the cap which often occurs where the screw-thread alone is used. The cap 8 is vented through the hole 12 which allows the liquid in tank 5 to be always under atmospheric pressure. It also serves the function of admitting atmosphere which passes by way of hole 7 to assist the lifting of fuel in pipe 4. The hole 12 is necessarily of sudicient size to serve both these purposes so that the liquid in tank 5 will never be under a partial vacuum. There may be other holes in the lift pipe 13 such as 1 1, but at leastone hole such as 7 must be above the maximum liquid level obtainable in tank 5 so as to allow a free passage of air for the purpose stated and also for the purpose of breaking the siphon efiect in line i when the automobile is running down a steep grade, as set forth and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 175,533, filed une 18th, 1917, which is a division of my original application filed April 15th, 1916, ngvvr Patent No. 1,230,832, issued June 19th, 1 1

The hole 12 is covered on the inside of the cap by a fine mesh screen 15, which prevents dirt from choking the vents 7 or 14. The cap as a whole is elevated above the top of the tank 5 so that the space inclosed within Will form an open air space which is at all times above the level of the liquid in the tank 5 and the size of the cap is such that a gasolene filler nozzle or funnel may be readily introduced. The pipe 4 is connected by a union 16 to the elbow 17 which passes through one portion of cap 9 and may be made integral with it, as illustrated, or the elbow 17 may be made sepdrate and screwed into the cap 9. 0n the inner side of the elbow 17, the lift pipe 13 is screwed or soldered so as to make a tight joint. A screen 18 may be fitted on the end of pipe 13 to revent dirt or waste being drawn into it.

he cylindrical part. of cap 9 may be threaded on the outside and screwed into the flange 19 as illustrated or it may be .splash of liquid on the outside thereof no matter at what longitudinal or lateral angle the vehicle may tilt.

This construction affords a filler cap, which may be screw-threaded so as to fit any ordinary rear tank and includes in a unitary device, the uptake pipe extending to the bottom of the tank, the vent for maintaining atmospheric pressure in the tank, the restricted air inlet to the lift line, all adapted for insertion in the tank filler opening and connection to the lift line of any known or desired vacuum feed systems such as are now commonly employed on automobiles.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum pumping system of the class described including a low level tank having a screw threaded filler opening, a closure for said opening comprising a cylindrical member screw-threaded to fit the threads of said opening, an elbow passage extending horizontally through the wall of said cylindrical member and downwardly toward the bottom of said tank, and means for a plying a vacuum to said passage.

2. Iii a vacuum pumping system of the class described including a low level tank having a screw threaded'filler opening, 'a closure for said opening comprising a cylindrical member screw-threaded to fit the threads of said opening and an elbow passage extending horizontally through the wall-of said cylindrical member and down wardl therefrom, said elbow passage being provi ed with an air inlet within said cylindrical member.

3. In a vacuum pumping system of the class described including a low level tank having a filler opening, a closure for said openlng comp-rising a cylindrical member to fit said opening and an elbow passage extending horizontally through the wall of said cylindrical member and downwardly within said tank, said elbow passage being provided with an air inlet within said cylindrical member, and a movable closure for the upper end of said cylindrical member through which the tank may be filled, said closure being formedwith a permanently open air inlet passage for maintaining atmospheric pressure within the tank.

4. A filler cap for the liquid fuel tank of an automobile embodying a connection to which is fitted a pipe for withdrawing fuel from said tank, means for opening said filler cap for filling the tank and means for admittin atmosphere through said filler cap to said tank and from said tank to said pipe.

5. An attachment for automobile liquid 66 closure for the upper end of said member,

an air vent from the atmosphere to the interior of said member, and a liquid withdrawal pipe carried by said member and having a comparatively small air inlet thereto from the interior of said member.

6. An attachment for liquid fuel tanks including an annular member adapted to be connected to the top of the tank, and having the interior thereof in open communication with the tank, a closure for the upper end of said member to permit the fillingof said tank through. said member, a liquid withdrawal pipe carried by said member and extending to a point adjacent to the bottom of the tank, means for admitting air from the atmosphere directly to the tank through said member, and means for restrictedly admitting air from within said member to said pipe.

7. A filler cap for liquid fuel tanks, including a cylindrical member, means for attaching the lower end thereof to the tank, a closure for the upper end of said mem her, a pipe carried by said member, and a comparatively small vent within said member for air from said tank to said pipe whereby the column of liquid drawn up from said tank through said pipe may be lightened by air admitted to said column.

8. A filler cap for liquid fuel tanks, in-

cluding a cylindrical member, means for attaching the lower end thereof to the tank, a closure for the upper end of said member, a pipe carried by said cylindrical member for extending to the bottom of the tank, and having a portion formed integral with said member, said integrally formed portion having a comparatively small want from the interior of said member to the interior of the pipe.

9. A filler cap for liquid fuel tanks, includi a cylindrical member, means for attaching the lower end thereof to the tank, a closure for the upper end of said member, a pipe carried by said cylindrical member for extending to the bottom of the tank, and having a portion formed integral with said member, said integrally formed portion having a comparatively small vent from the interior of said member to the interior of the pipe, said pipe having a second comparatively small vent intermediate of its end and below said member.

10. An attachment for liquid fuel tanks including an annular member adapted to be connected to the top of the tank and close an opening therein, a movable closure for said member to permit the filling of said tank through said member, a liquid withdi'aiwai pipe carried by said member separate from said closure and extending to a point adjacent to the bottom of the tank,

and means for restrictedly admitting air from within said tank to said pipe at a point adjacent to the eonnection of the latter to said member.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 7th day of July, A. D. 1917.

CHARLES LAWRENCE STOKES. 

